TINSUKIA: The biggest wholesale vegetable market (Sabji Mandi) of Tinsukia district located at Tambulbari near Tinkunia in Tinsukia has been shut for the last two days following a scuffle between a local e-rickshaw driver and traders over a parking issue.
While police allegedly played a partisan role, some media outlets exaggerated the issue with biased stories. As the market handles voluminous quantities of vegetables from local producers as well as from importers, heaps of garbage accumulated from decaying vegetables have posed health hazards. This apart, many women traders from nearby localities who purchase vegetables in bulk and sell these in their local markets as a means of livelihood are now without any earning. The loss would be several lakhs of rupees.
According to the sabji mandi traders, a local e-rickshaw driver who came to the market to carry vegetables, hit an elderly porter (mutia) carrying a load on his head while navigating for parking. The porter lost his balance and his load fell on the vehicle, with no damage to the vehicle. The enraged driver allegedly hurled abusive language on the community line that infuriated the traders and he was thrashed. Though the matter was settled amicably, the police later detained three persons on the basis of the driver’s complaint. Demanding immediate release, the traders shut down the market for an uncertain period.
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